Chicago Bears linebacker Lance Briggs (55) after the second half against the Indianapolis Colts at Soldier Field. The Bears won 41-21. On Thursday, Briggs called Packers tight end Jermichael Finley an "idiot." / Dennis Wierzbicki, USA TODAY Sports

by Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports

by Lindsay H. Jones, USA TODAY Sports

LAKE FOREST, Ill. â?? Chicago Bears coach Lovie Smith is growing a goatee, and his facial hair has turned gray. As he stood in a crowd of reporters on the Bears' practice field Thursday afternoon, he sounded as if his team's performances against the Green Bay Packers had aged him.

"It's been a long time," Smith said, his voice trailing off.

Indeed, the Packers have won the last five times the teams have met, including a 23-10 win in Green Bay on Sept. 13. Chicago's last win in this heated NFC North rivalry was on Sept. 27, 2010.

"Right now, as I continue to say, we haven't held up our end of the deal with the rivalry. You have to win some football games," Smith said.

In the past five weeks, while losing four of their last five games, the Bears have watched their division lead slip away, with Green Bay officially taking over first place last week with a win against the Detroit Lions.

So while the Bears always want to beat the Packers â?? for themselves, if not for their fans too â?? Bears players understand that this week, they are playing for more than just pride.

"I don't know if its desperation, but I feel like we do have to get a win. This is a game we've got to have," cornerback D.J. Moore said.

Smith rattled off all sorts of reasons Thursday afternoon for Chicago's losing streak against the Packers. Smith wouldn't single out any of his players, but it is clear a main difference has been the quarterbacks.

Jay Cutler, a 61% passer for his career, has only completed 46% of his throws in his seven starts as a Bear against Green Bay. In those games, he has thrown only seven touchdowns, 16 interceptions and has been sacked 26 times. Chicago is 1-6 in those games dating back to 2009. Cutler, who was limited in practice because of a sore neck and knee, also lost one start against the Packers when he played for the Broncos.

"They've been successful against us. They've played better than us. It's as simple as that. They've won the turnover battle, and we've done some things that we just can't do in order to win," Smith said.

Aaron Rodgers, meanwhile, has completed more than 70 percent of his passes in his 10 starts against Chicago dating back to 2008, with twice as many touchdowns (16) as interceptions (8).

"Aaron, what he's able to do not only with his feet and with how accurate he can throw on the run, it's amazing. It always poses a problem, for any team," Chicago linebacker Lance Briggs said. "It means that no matter what the score is, the Packers have an opportunity of coming back and being in the game."

Briggs' respect for Rodgers appeared genuine, though it doesn't extend to all of Rodgers' teammates. Briggs on Thursday was told that Green Bay tight end Jermichael Finely had told Fox Sports Wisconsin that he thought the Chicago defense was better now that Brian Urlacher is sidelined with a hamstring injury. Perhaps it was a back-handed compliment to Urlacher's replacement, Nick Roach, but Briggs didn't see it that way.

"He's an idiot," Briggs said. "Just suit up and play ball, for real. His comments aren't going to change the outcome of the game. His comments aren't going to help him or anybody else play better."